No abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to describe a novel design workflow for the digital fabrication of custom-made orthoses (CMIO). It is intended to provide an easier process for clinical practitioners and orthotic technicians alike. It further functions to reduce the dependency of the operators' abilities and skills. Originality -Although some research has been developed on digital fabrication of CMIO, few studies have investigated the use of desktop 3D Printing in any systematic way. This study provides a first step in the exploration of a new design workflow using lowcost digital fabrication tools combined with non-manual finishing. Social implications -The feasibility of the process increases the impact of the study, as the great accessibility to this type of 3D printers makes the digital fabrication method be easier to be adopted by operators. Methodology -The technical assessment covers low-cost 3D scanning, free CAD software, and desktop 3D Printing and acetone vapour finishing. To analyse its viability, a cost comparison was carried out between the proposed workflow and the traditional CMIO manufacture method. Findings -The results show that the proposed workflow is a technically feasible and cost effective solution to improve upon the traditional process of design and manufacture of custom-made static TMC orthoses. Further studies are needed in order to become a clinically feasible approach and to estimate the efficacy of the method for the recovery process in patients.

Inexpensive piezoelectric diaphragms can be used as sensors to facilitate both nozzle 1 height setting and build platform leveling in FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) 3D printers. Tests 2 simulating nozzle contact are conducted to establish the available output and an output of greater 3 than 8 Volts found at 20 o C, a value which is readily detectable by simple electronic circuits. Tests 4 are also conducted at a temperature of 80 o C and, despite a reduction of greater than 80% in 5 output voltage, this is still detectable. The reliability of piezoelectric diaphragms is investigated 6 by mechanically stressing samples over 100,000 cycles at both 20 o C and 80 o C and little loss of 7 output over the test duration is found. The development of a nozzle contact sensor using a single 8 piezoelectric diaphragm is described. 9

No abstract

Laparoscopic technique has demonstrated numerous advantages compared to open conventional surgery. Nevertheless, this procedure increases the surgeons fatigue and thus, the potential to commit errors that may harm the patient during the operation. The post-surgery pain is also augmented because the surgeons are forced to adopt non-neutral postures during the practice. This study reveals how a Postural Freedom element could help surgeons to improve the postural hygiene. During this study, thirteen participants with and without previous experience in laparoscopic surgery performed a test with two instruments: a prototype that implement this postural freedom concept and a conventional fixed instrument. The results obtained indicate that the postural freedom element allows the participants to maintain neutral positions during greatest part of the experiment and suggest that the implementation of an articulated element could increases the neutral positions adopted during a real laparoscopic procedure. The use of the postural freedom concept allowed to the participants to reduce the awkward positions during upper limb motions and to reduce displacements, avoiding extreme abductions that are common with the conventional fixed instruments.